The anticipation for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is reaching a fever pitch, and adding to the excitement is the Capri Global Holdings Private Limited owned franchise, the UP Warriorz. One of the five teams involved in the highly-anticipated 2023 Women’s Premier League, the UP Warriorz became a reality the moment Capri Global Holdings won the bid for the Lucknow-based franchise for INR 757 Crores at an auction hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The UP Warriorz’ logo is comprised of four main components: an inspired rendition of the Sarus crane in motion, a sword, wings that extend out like the sun in the morning, and a shield to hold it all together.
The key element is the Sarus crane, the tallest flying bird in the world and the state bird of Uttar Pradesh, which serves as a metaphor for movement, grace, balance, and reaching new heights.
The Warriorz have also assembled their coaching staff, with former England cricketer Jon Lewis appointed as the Head Coach of the team. Lewis is widely experienced and has taken over 1200 wickets in over 500 games, both internationally and domestically. He was the bowling coach for the England Men’s Team in 2021, working with elite bowlers such as Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Ben Stokes. Arjuna Awardee Anju Jain, who is the first Indian Women cricketer to represent the country in four ODI World Cups, will serve as the Assistant Coach. Former Australian cricketer Ashley Noffke will be the Bowling Coach, and 4-time World Champion Lisa Sthalekar will play a mentorship role for the UP Warriorz.
“The WPL is a huge step forward for women’s cricket globally,” Lewis said. “I am excited to be a part of this journey and work with Anju Jain, Ashley Noffke, and Lisa Sthalekar, who bring a diverse set of experiences to the dugout. This will only make our task easier.”
Jain, who was the coach for the Tornadoes, who won their first title in the 2022 edition of the FairBreak Invitational T20, and has a 12-year coaching career, including serving as the head coach for the Bangladesh Women’s cricket team. “We believe in the huge potential of women’s cricket in India,” said Rajesh Sharma, Managing Director of Capri Global Holdings Private Limited. “While this is our fourth professional sports team, we have just started this journey and look forward to making significant strides. We want the UP Warriorz to be a source of inspiration for young women cricketers and the people of Uttar Pradesh.”
The Women’s Premier League will take place in Mumbai from March 4th to 26th, 2023, with 22 matches to be played at the Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium. The Player Auction for the WPL will be held in Mumbai on February 13th. The WPL represents a huge step forward for women’s cricket globally and the UP Warriorz are poised to play a significant role in this exciting new chapter for the sport.
